Sealing means for rotary engines



May 4, 1965 L. B. SIMON SEALING MEANS FOR ROTARY ENGINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1965 uxomhm muiom INVENTOR. LEWS B. SIMON ATTORNEYS May 4, 1965 1.. B. SIMON SEALING MEANS FOR ROTARY ENGINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 29, 1963 INVENTOR. LEWIS a. SIMON ATTORNEYS y 1965 Q L. B. SIMON 3,181,509

SEALING MEANS FOR ROTARY ENGINES Filed Jan. 29, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR, LEWES B. SIMON ATT DRIVE Y5 United States Patent 3,181,509 SEALHQG MEANS FOR RGTARY ENGINES Lewis 13. Simon, Santa Paula, Califi, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Filed Jan. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 254,845 3 Claims. (Cl. 123-16) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), see. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to improved sealing means for rotary engines and the like and more particularly to a rotating component within the rotary engine which provides continuous surface sealing between a rotating piston and a casing of a rotary engine so as to make line engagement between the piston and corners of the casing.

This invention provides improved sealing over a former filed application by Lewis B. Simon for Chamber Orbiting Rotary Internal Combustion Engine, Serial No. 98,992, filed March 28, 1961, now Patent No. 3,114,354. The structure of the former application provided for point contact sealing of the pistons of the engine with the corners of the casing. Because of the desirability to have line sealing (in contrast to point sealing) between the pistons and the corners of the casing of the engine, the present invention has provided pistons that will accomplish this result. This is accomplished by providing surface contact of the pistons with both the curved and end walls of the casing so that when the surface engagements meet at the corner of the casing a line contact is formed.

Further, the present invention overcomes the troublesome problem of efiecting a complete seal between the sides of the pistons and the end walls of the casing. Previous devices have lost the seal somewhere along the end wall of the casing because of the requirement that the outer rotating end of the piston must rock with respect to the remainder of the piston. The present invention overcomes this problem by employing a radial groove at the side of the piston which extends all the way to the rocking portion of the piston with a side member disposed therein and engaging the piston so as to allow for the rocking action.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved seal between chambers of a rotary device.

Another object is to provide a more efiicient rotary internal combustion engine wherein the engine is of the type having a rotor eccentrically mounted within the casing.

A further object is to provide a device which will substantially prevent any leakage from one chamber into another chamber of a rotary type internal combustion engine.

A still further object is to provide continuous surface sealing of pistons with the inner surface of a casing of a rotary type internal combustion engine.

Yet another object is to provide line engagement of a rotating piston within a rotary internal combustion engine with the inner corners of the engines casing.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated when the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FTGS. 1alh show the cyclic operation of the rotary engine.

FIG. 2. is an isometric view of a rotary engine with the interior of its casing shown in phantom and with a "ice portion of the piston cut away, this figure showing the prior art pistons.

FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the invention with a portion cut away.

FIG. 4- shows an isometric exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an isometric view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings where like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout several views, there is shown in FIG. 2 a rotary internal combustion engine 10 having the prior art pistons 11 and 12 which are identical in their construction. These pistons and their relationship to the remainder of the engine will be first described and then a description of the improved pistons will follow. The engine 10 has a rotor 13 eccentrically mounted within a casing 14, the internal surfaces of the casing being shown in phantom in the figure. Slidably mounted within radial grooves 16 and 17 of the rotor are two vanes 13 and 19. The radial grooves 16 and 17 diametrically oppose one another and extend from both sides of the rotor 13 to a web 29, this web preferably being integral with the remainder of the rotor.

For simplification, the construction of the piston 11 on the right side of FIG. 2 is now referred to wherein that iston includes the vane 18 sealably and slidably mounted within the groove 16 of the rotor. A sealing shoe 24 is rockably mounted at an outer end of the vane 18 such as by a ball and socket joint, the shoe 24 having the ball 26 and the outer end of the vane having the socket 28. The sealing shoe 24 extends from a forward end wall 30 of the casing to and after end wall 32 of the casing and has an outer curved face 34 which is shaped to conform to an inner cylindrical wall 36 of the casing. Slidably engaging opposing sides of the vane 18 is a forward side plate 38 and an after side plate 40. The forward side plate 325 has an outer surface 42 which sealably and slidably engages the forward wall 39 of the rotary engine casing and the after side plate 4%) has a similar surface which sealably and slidably engages the after wall 32 of the rotary engine casing.

The sealing shoe 24 has openings 44 at its ends for receiving a tab 45 of the side plate 38 and a tab 46 of the side plate 40, these tabs having outer end surfaces 47 and 48 which extend to the inner cylindrical wall 36 of the casing so as to be slidable thereon. Each of these side plates 38 and 40 are biased both radially and axially with respect to the rotor 13 by compression springs 49. The side plates 38 and 4d are movable in two directions, namely, radially and axially with respect to the rotor 13. The vanes 18 and 19 are urged in a radially Outward direction with respect to the axis of the rotor by compression springs 52, these springs being inserted within recesses 54 of each vane and through the opening 55 within the web 20.

Each vane has a plurality of oil passages 56 which lead from the recesses 54 through the ball 26 of the sealing shoe and open on the outer cylindrical face 34, the oil being supplied to the oil passages through the recesses. At the forward end of the motor is shown a timing gear 58 and at the after end of the motor is shown a spiral cooling fin 6d.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an improved piston which is a substitute for the pistons 11 and 12 of FIG. 2 and will slidably and sealably engage the radial grooves 16 and 17 and be biased by springs 52 in a like manner as the prior art pistons. The improved piston has a shoe 62 divided into two portions 64 and so, the portion 64 having a and FIG. with the exception of the shoe.

exhaust.

V pression stage.

tongue 68 which slidably and sealably engages a groove 70 in the other portion 66 along surfaces 72. The tongue 68 has an aperture 74 for receiving one end of a compression spring 76' and the other portion 66 of the shoe 62 has an aperture 78 for receiving the other end of the spring 76 so that ends 80 and 82 of the portions 66 and 64 respectively are biased against the end walls 30 and 32 of the casing respectively. Accordingly, the edges 84 and 86 of the shoe 62 will make line contact with corners 88 and 90 respectively of the engine casing. A vane 92 has radially extending grooves 94 and 96 for sealably and slidably engaging side plates 93 and 100 respectively along surfaces 102 and 104 respectively. The vane 92 and the side plates 98 and 100 are all curved at their outermost ends and are coextensive with one another to sealably and slidably engage a ball portion 106 of the shoe 62 so that upon rocking motion of the shoe 62 with respect to the vane 92 and the side plates 98 and 100 a seal will be continuously maintained. Recessed within the vane 92 and the side plate 98 (in an identical manner as shown in FIG. 2) is a compression spring 99 for biasing the side plate 98 both axially and radially with respect to the engine 10, the other side plate 100 being biased in an identical manner.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the invention which is identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with the exception of the construction of the shoe. This embodiment has a shoe 108 which has tabs 110 and 112 which sealably and slidably engage wtihin recesses 114 and 116 respectively of the shoe 108 along surfaces 118 and surfaces 120 respectively. p The tabs 110 and 112 have recesses for receiving one end of springs 122 and 124 respectively and the shoe 108 has recesses for receiving the other end of the springs 122 and 124 so that the tabs 110 and 112 maintain line engagement along their corners 126 and 128 respectively with the corners 38 and 90 respectively of the casing 14. r V

FIG. 6 shows a still further embodiment of the invention which is identical to the embodiments shown in FIG. 3

This embodiment in FIG. 6 has a shoe 130 which is divided into two L-shaped portions 132 and 134 with these portions making sealing and slidable engagement along a surface 136. The portion 132 has recesses for receiving one end of the springs 138 and 140 and the other portion 134 likewise has recesses for receiving the other end of the springs 138 and 140 so that the shoe 130 makes line contact along the edges 142 and 144 with corners 88 and 90 respectively of the casing 14. V V V In the operation of the device reference is made to 2 FIGS. 1a through 1h wherein the rotor is shown in various positions throughout two complete revolutions, the engine having a spark plug 146. In FIG. 1a, chamber A has completed its exhaust and chamber B is now beginning itsexhaust from an exhaust valve 148. In FIG. 1b, the rotor has rotated 45 in a clockwise direction and chamber A is beginning its intake of combustible gas through an intake valve with chamber B stillin its After 135 of revolution chamber B has completed its exhaust and chamber A is still in its intake stage. In FIG. 1d, after 225 of revolution chamber A commences its compression stage and chamber B commences an intake stage. In FIG. 1e, after a complete revolution chamber A is ignited and chamber 3 commences a corn- In FIG. 1 the rotor has rotated 180 in the second revolution and chamber A is commencing an exhaust stage and chamber B is being ignited. In FIG. 1g after 225 in the second revolution chamber is exhausting and chamber B is delivering its'power stroke. In FIG. 1h, after two complete revolutions chambers A and B are performing the same functions as shown in FIG. 1a.

Upon operation of the engine as described in the preceding paragraph the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-6 will maintain an improved seal over their counter part shown in FIG. 2. With respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 an improved seal is maintained between the vanes and the side plates and between the shoes and the corners of the casing by surface engagement. The remainder of the sealing problems are solved in the improved embodiments in a similar way as that accomplished by the prior art embodiment shown in FIG. 2. Any wear that is caused by the various parts moving with respect to one another is taken up by the springs so that the engine maintains good sealing even after it has undergone many hours of operation.

It is now readily apparent that the present invention provides improved sealing between the chambers. of a rotary internal combustion engine. A continuous sealing engagement is maintained by the parts so as to effectively seal between the chambers of the engine.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a rotary engine including a rotor eccentrically mounted within a casing, the casing having a cylindrical inner wall between two inner end walls; a device for making a seal with said walls comprising:

(a) the rotor having a groove'extending both radially and between said end walls;

(b) a vane sealably engaging an inner surface of said groove and slidably supported therein so that upon rotation of' the rotor the vane can move radially with respect to said rotor;

(c) said vane having a pair of side walls with each side wall facing a respective one of said end walls;

(d) a side plate mounted adjacent each of the vanes side Walls with each plate having an outermost end with respect to the rotor which is coextensive with an outermost end of the vane;

(e) eachside wall of the vane having a radially extending groove and each side plate sealably and slidably engaging'a respective groovealong a pair of opposplates towards the respective end wall so as to eifect V the sealing engagement therebetween;

(i) a sealing shoe having an outer surface which is curved to conform to said cylindrical wall so as to make sealing engagement therewith;

(j) said sealing shoe being mounted at the outermost 'endsof the side plates and said vane with the sealing shoe and said outermost ends sealingly and slidably engaging one another along a curved plane so that said sealing shoe is rockable with respect to the vane and said said plates; each side plate being biased radially outwardlyv tobear against said shoe;

(k) said shoe extending from one end wall to the other end wall and having ends capable of sealingly and slidably engaging the end walls;

I .(I) said shoe being divided into a plu rality of portions;

ing engagement therewith, whereby upon rotation of said rotor unbroken surface sealing engagement is maintained between the rotor, the side plates, and

the shoe with the end walls and the cylindrical inner wall of said casing.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

(a) the biasing means of section (11) also biases the end plates radially outward.

3. In a rotary engine including a rotor eccentrically mounted within a casing, the casing having a cylindrical inner wall between two inner end Walls; a device for making a seal with said walls comprising:

(a) the rotor having a groove extending both radially and between said end walls;

(12) a vane sealably engaging an inner surface of said groove and slidably supported therein so that upon rotation of the rotor the vane can move radially with respect to said rotor;

(c) said vane having a pair of side walls with each side wall facing a respective one of said end walls;

(d) a side plate mounted adjacent each of the vanes side walls with each plate having an outermost end with respect to the rotor which is coextensive with an outermost end of the vane;

(e) each side Wall of the vane having a radially extending groove and each side plate sealably and slidably engaging a respective groove along a pair of opposing planes, both planes being substantially parallel to a radial plane through said rotor;

(f) the sealing engagement of each side plate with the respective groove in the vane extending from a position within the radial groove of the rotor to the outerniost ends of the side plates and said vane;

(g) each side plate having a surface which is capable of sealably engaging a respective one of said end walls;

(12) means biasing each of said surfaces of the end plates towards the respective end wall so as to effect the sealing engagement therebetween;

(i) a sealing shoe having an outer surface which is curved to conform to said cylindrical wall so as to make sealing engagement therewith;

(j) said sealing shoe being mounted at the outermost ends of the side plates and said vane with the sealing shoe and said outermost ends sealingly and slidably engaging one another along a curved plane so that said sealing shoe is r-oclcable with respect to the vane and said side plates;

(k) said shoe being divided into three portions with one of the portions extending to include the ends of the shoe and having at each end a groove extending between an end of a respective one of the side plates and said cylindrical inner wall and the other two portions being tabs, each of which sealably and slidably engages a respective groove of said one portion so that the tab portions can slide with respect to said one portion to take up wear between the tab portions and the side walls; and

(l) means biasing each of the tab portions of the shoe toward a respective end wall so as to make sealing engagement therewith, whereby upon rotation of saidrotor unbroken surface sealing engagement is maintained between the rotor, the side plates, and the shoe with the end walls and the cylindrical inner wall of said casing.

References (fitted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 518,299 4/94 Williams et al. l03-137 X 763,773 6/04 Marlitt .a 12316 904,974 11/08 Lee 12316 2,162,851 6/39 Lister 123-46 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,587 12/12 France.

(Addition to No. 443,531.)

330,652 7/03 France.

462,013 7/28 Germany.

289,575 5/28 Great Britain.

KARL .T. ALBRECHT, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH H. BRANSON, 111., Examiner. 

1. IN A ROTARY ENGINE INCLUDING A ROTOR ECCENTRICALLY MOUNTED WITHIN A CASING, THE CASING HAVING A CYLINDRICAL INNER WALL BETWEEN TWO INNER END WALLS; A DEVICE FOR MAKING A SEAL WITH SAID WALLS COMPRISING: (A) THE ROTOR HAVING A GROOVE EXTENDING BOTH RADIALLY AND BETWEEN SAID END WALLS; (B) A VANE SEALABLY ENGAGING AN INNER SURFACE OF SAID GROOVE AND SLIDABLY SUPPORTED THEREIN SO THAT UPON ROTATION OF THE ROTOR THE VANE CAN MOVE RADIALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ROTOR; (C) SAID VANE HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS WITH EACH SIDE WALL FACING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID END WALLS; (D) A SIDE PLATE MOUNTED ADJACENT EACH OF THE VANE''S SIDE WALLS WITH EACH PLATE HAVING AN OUTERMOST END WITH RESPECT TO THE ROTOR WHICH IS COEXTENSIVE WITH AN OUTERMOST END OF THE VANE; (E) EACH SIDE WALL OF THE VANE HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING GROOVE AND EACH PLATE SEALABLY AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE GROOVE ALONG A PAIR OF OPPOSING PLANES, BOTH PLANES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO A RADIAL PLANE THROUGH SAID ROTOR; (F) THE SEALING ENGAGEMENT OF EACH SIDE PLATE WITH THE RESPECTIVE GROOVE IN THE VANE EXTENDING FROM A POSITION WITHIN THE RADIAL GROOVE OF THE ROTOR TO THE OUTERMOST ENDS OF THE SIDE PLATES AND SAID VANE; (G) EACH SIDE PLATE HAVING A SURFACE WHICH IS CAPABLE OR SEALABLY ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID END WALLS; (H) MEANS BIASING EACH OF SAID SURFACES OF THE END PLATES TOWARDS THE RESPECTIVE END WALL SO AS TO EFFECT THE SEALING ENGAGEMENT THEREBETWEEN; (I) A SEALING SHOE HAVING AN OUTER SURFACE WHICH IS CURVED TO CONFORM TO SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL SO AS TO MAKE SEALING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH; (J) SAID SEALING SHOE BEING MOUNTED AT THE OUTERMOST ENDS OF THE SIDE PLATES AND SAID VANE WITH THE SEALING SHOE AND SAID OUTERMOST ENDS SEALINGLY AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING ONE ANOTHER ALONG A CURVED PLANE SO THAT SAID SEALING SHOE IS ROCKABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE VANE AND SAID SAID PLATES; EACH SIDE PLATE BEING BIASED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY TO BEAR AGAINST SAID SHOE; (K) SAID SHOE EXTENDING FROM ONE END WALL TO THE OTHER END WALL AND HAVING ENDS CAPABLE OF SEALINGLY AND SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE END WALLS; (L) SAID SHOE BEING DIVIDED INTO A PLURALITY OF PORTIONS; AND (M) MEANS BIASING TWO OF SAID PORTIONS OF THE SHOE TOWARD A RESPECTIVE END WALL SO AS TO EFFECT THE SEALING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, WHEREUPON ROTATION OF SAID ROTOR UNBROKEN SURFACE SEALING ENGAGEMENT IS MAINTAINED BETWEEN THE ROTOR, THE SIDE PLATES, AND THE SHOE WITH THE END WALLS AND THE CYLINDRICAL INNER WALL OF SAID CASING. 